National Republican., 1887-03-30

II the clerk Of the weather is in an amia-
lle mood, which has not been the case
during the past few days, the base ball seq
son will open with big boom Thursday
afternoon, and Washington's representative
nine will go into active: preliminary prac-
tlcc. The Introductory game on Thursday
will be with the Amherst College club;
Friday the Hamiltons, of Ontario, Canada,
will be the Statosmen's opponents, and
again on Saturday the Amherst College
boys will cross bats with the Nationals.
As the college boys have been actively en-
gagged during the winter months In gym
nasium exercise, they will no doubt give the
local club little Of the healthful work
they so much need.
The Nationals start out under very prom
Using circumstances, as they have twenty.
one players from which to select In the
make up of the nine that will have TO un-
dergo the hard work Of the coming League
season. Great things cannot be looked for
at the outset as the players will be rusty
from want Of practice, but before the end
and If there is not 1t will then be time
enough to complain. In order that the
readers Of the REPUBLICAN may know
something about the record of the players
the club has secured, short history Of the
twenty one under contract is appended:
Fred J.. Shaw, otherwise known as
"Wizard' Shaw, comes from Charlestown,
Mess. He first played ball in Lynn, Mass,
In 1882. In 1883 he was engaged on the
Detroit League club, and by his deceptive
pitching gained a notional reputation,
Shaw remained In Detroit untn INA middle
of 1884, but at that time had some oiai
Guilty with the management and Joined
fnroac with tha Rpstnn TTpfnpa N, uh nj,
team he endeI the season. In 1885 the
"Wizardn pitched for the famous Provi-
dence club but did not make as good n
record as be did on the Detroits. The
season of 1885 saw Shaw on the Nationals,
and while at times his exhibition In the
pitchers box was the finest ever witnessed
In this city, still his seasons work as a
Dupee promises 10 hold his end up with
the best Of them, and II the new rules do
not hamper his delivery he certainly ought
to prove as good a twirler as is In the
League. Shaw is 5 feet inches in height,
weighs 1856 pounds, and is 90 years old.
f. +. Gilmore commenced playing ball as
aprofessional In Hartford in 1854, where he
first earned his laurels on the diamond field.
He continued with that club, doing good
work, until last September, when he was
engaged by the Nationals, and proved him
self to be very effective pitcher. His
work In the box is earnest at all times, and
II the new rules do not operate against his
delivery he will puzzle the heaviest batters
OF the League. Gilmore is 23 years old I;
feet II inches In height, and weighs 100
pounds.
II. NJ. O'Day is also pitcher, and his
swift and speedy delivery is well known to
the patrons Of the national game. During
the season of 1885 he did effective service
for the Nationals when they won the cham
piopship of the Eastern League. O'Day
started out professionally on the Council
1854 he did fine work for the 1oledos, aud
in the first part of 1885 was with the Pitts.
burgs, and from that club came to the Ma.
tionals. During the early part of 1856
Hank pitched with telling effect for the
Savannah Club. Then he went to Detroit,
and from there returned to this city, where
he,finished the season. O'Day's forte In
made many preliminary movements
before delivering the ball, 1t is
thought that the new rules will suit him to
perfection, and that the coming season will |
be the most successful one of his life.
O'Day lie 81 years old, weighs 1856 pounds,
and is o feet In height.
James L. Whitney first came into promi-
neDce vpon the Pacific coast as a pitcher in
1850, and the reputation he there made
gained him an engagement upon the Boston
League Club in 1881, where he remained
until last spripg, when he joined the Kansas
City team, and with them finished the sea-
son. AT the late League meeting Whitney
was given the National Club, and If "Grass.
hopper jim" pitches with anything like the
old time effectiveness, he will prove val
liable man, as he is familiar with all the
League batsmen, has perfect command of
the ball, and can use the bat effectively
when needed. Whitney is about the only
batting pitcher the Nationals have. His
age Is IS years, height q feet inch, and
weighs 115 pounds.
r. NJ. Heating is also a pitcher but as
yet has not made record among profess
tionals. He halls from Massachusetts,, aud
first began playing ball in Springfield, In
his native state. In preliminary practice
during the past week Heating has shown
up well, but whether he will continue his
good work when compelled to face the
seen. KeatiDg is 81 years old, weighs 155
pounds, and feet inch In height.
g. w. Keefe is a Washington boy, who
has played around the city with various
amateur clubs. Last season he pitched
several games for the Nationals, and In the
exhibitions against the New York club last
August did excellent work. Keefe is quite
Get ii inches, and weighs 13l pounds.
Cornelius Mack commenced his profess
|I9nal career as a ball player on the Meri-
dans, Of Connecticut, In 1884, as a catcher.
From there he went to Hartford and played
on the nine in that city during 1885 and
part Of 1856. From Hartford he came to
Washington and his superb work behind
the bat during the latter part Of last season
is too well known to local enthusiasts to
need comment here. Mack is not only a
first class catcher, but is also an excellent
batter. His age is "a years. weighs 100
pounds, and is feet inch In height.
p. L. Dealy is also a catcher, He started
out as a professional in 1883 at Moosuk,
Conn.,, from where he Joined tide Milwau-
KEGS in 1884, and played with them until
they dlsbanded. Thence he went to st.
Paul, and in 1885 and 1886 was member
OF the Boston League Club. Dealy is o
good batter and base runner, and II he has
luck will prove an excellent back k-stop for
the Statesmen. lie is "a years old, 5 feet
81 inches in height, and weighs $50 pounds.
Bernard Gilligan started ball playing in
1878 In and around Boston, but first at
tracted attention to his ability as q ball
tcsser on the Cleveland Club in 1880, where
his catching of McCormick's pitching SO.
cured him many ilattering notices. In 1881
be cast bis fortunes with the Providence
Club, and did effective work with that nine
until their disbandment in 1885. In 1886
be Joined the Nationals, and his earnest and
painstaking efforts last year for the local
team is still fresh In the mind of the Wash
ipgton public, and needs no notice. "Gilly''
is so years of age, weighs $50 pounds, and
is 3 feet 6 inches IN height.
Philip @. Baker is well and favorably
known to all the base ball patrons OF the
national capital, and it would seem strange
TO miss Lucky Phil's face from the local
nine. Baker first learned TO play ball 10 his
native city, Philadelphia, but made his
mark as professional on the lIornelis in
1873. He Joined forces with the Nationals
in the latter part OF that year, and has
played in this city ever since, with the ex-
ception Of part of the season OF 1888, when
he played in Baltimore. He is fine batter,